Two-wheeled vehicle



(NoModeL) T. DUKE.

TWO WHEBLED VEHICLE. No. 285,592. Patented Sept. 25, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE. Y

THOMAS DUKE, or HENRY, ILLINOIS.

TWOI-WHEELED VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 285,592, dated September 25, 1883,

Application filed April 16, 1883. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern Beit known thatI, THOMAS DUKE, of Henry, in the county of Marshall and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Two-Wheel Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved vehicle. Fig; 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a top View with a portion of the body broken away. Fig. 4 is a View of a tongue.

My invention relates to means for mounting a vehicle-body on an axle,whereby shocks and concussions are prevented, not only to the driver, but also to the horse, as will be fully understood from the following description, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings.

A designates the body of a buggy, gig, or other vehicle; and B, the axle thereof, which is preferably arched in the usual manner.

0 G are the thills, and G the cross-bar thereof. I make the thill-irons D of springy metal, and I attach them rigidly to the axle B at a by means of auxiliary arms E. These thillsprings constitute the frame for the body of the vehicle. In fact,I dispense altogether with the well-known rigid thill-irons and clips, and use a rectangular frame formed of spring metal. This frame, for the purpose of description, I now letter G, and it is divided into thill-irons, which serve a twofold purpose of longitudinal bow-springs inverted, and at their termini there is a transverse spring, a, 011 which the rear portion of the body of the vehicle is sustained by an angular brace,I:I. The forward portion of the body has secured to its floor pivots g, which pass through eyes formed on the forward ends of intermediate springs,J J, shaped somewhat like the italic letter f. The

rear portions of these springs are rigidly se cured to transverse portions h of the abovenamed auxiliary springs.

It will be seen from what has been described that the thill-irons are continuous, and that I have one continuous frame which constitutes thill-irons, longitudinal springs, and a trans- 5Q verse spring. This frame also serves as a rear support for the buggy-body; also a support for the rear parts of the f springs, which sup port the forward part of the said body.

It will also be seen from what I have above described that I have flexible thill irons or connections with the axle, and that these thillconnections are. springs for the body of the vehicle.

It will furthermore be seen that the thill- 6 frame is a compound bow-spring, and that it affords-such elasticity for the body of the vehiole as could not be obtained by any other practicable means. I

In Fig. 4 I have shown a tongue or pole which may be used in connection with my invention, which may be used in place of the thills or shafts.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by 7c Letters Patent, is-

The combination, in a gig or other Vehicle, of the curved springsD a, thills (3,.the supporting-arms E, secured to the axle and to the side thill-springs, and the intermediate springs, 7 5 J, secured to the side thill-springs and pivoted to the body of the vehicle, all constructed and adapted to operate substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my 8c own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' THOMAS DUKE.

Witnesses:

It. H. WATERFALL, JOHN HORAN. 

